Disable Windows Subsystem for Android via Regedit

This article provides a direct, step-by-step guide on how to disable the Windows Subsystem for Android (WSA) virtualization platform using the Windows Registry Editor (Regedit). Modifying these registry settings allows administrators and users to shut down the underlying hypervisor services and prevent WSA virtualization components from consuming system resources in Windows 11.

How to Disable the Virtualization Platform via Regedit

  1. Open the Registry Editor
    • Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog box.
    • Type regedit and press Enter or click OK.
    • Click Yes if prompted by User Account Control (UAC).
  2. Navigate to the Hypervisor Configuration Key

    • In the Registry Editor address bar, paste the following path and press Enter:

      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Hypervisor
  3. Modify the Hypervisor Launch Type
    • In the right-hand pane, locate the DWORD (32-bit) value named HypervisorLaunchType.
    • If it does not exist, right-click an empty area in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it HypervisorLaunchType.
    • Double-click HypervisorLaunchType to edit it.
    • Set the Value data to 0 (Off) to disable the hypervisor used by WSA and other virtualization platforms.
    • Click OK to save the changes.
  4. Disable Hypervisor Services (Optional but Recommended)

    • In the address bar, navigate to:

      HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\hvhost

    • Double-click the Start value in the right pane.

    • Change its Value data to 4 (Disabled).

    • Click OK.

  5. Restart Your Computer
    • Close the Registry Editor.
    • Restart the system for the changes to take effect.

Once the machine reboots, the virtualization layer supporting Windows Subsystem for Android will be disabled, preventing the platform from launching or running background virtual machine processes. To re-enable the platform in the future, return HypervisorLaunchType to 1 (Auto) and hvhost Start to 3 (Manual), then restart the system.